Pneumatic seat.



H. SEIBEL.

PNEUMATIC SEAT.

APPLICATION HLED MAY z. mp

1,288,445. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

IN?! m liii HEN/Fr 55/862 H. SEIBEL.

PNEUMATIC SEAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. i917 Patented Dec. 17, 1918 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H SEIBEL.

PNEUMATIC SEAT.

mmcwou FILED MAY! um.

1,288,445. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BEIBEL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED AIR SPRINGCOMPANY OF ARIZONA, 0F PHOENIX, ARIZONA, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

PNEUMATIC SEAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1'7, 1918.

Application filed Key 7, 1917. Serial 1%.}67926.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY Semen, a citi zenof the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, lnue invented new and usefulImprovements in Pneumatic Seats, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a pneumatic support or cushion andparticularly pertains to a motorcycle seat.

Considerable difliculty has been expert cnced in incorporating pneumaticcushions or supports in vehicle construction. This has been due in most.cases to the trouble encountered in properly building a pneumaticcushion which would stand constant strain and which would not burst orbecome distortcd under such strain, at the same time furnishing aresilient support for the load to the frame of the vehicle and which,when required, will compress in a manner to absorbextreme and violentblows.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pneumatic support whichis fitted with an integrally formed air reservoinby which the suppmtingcushions may be inflated and maintainedin an inflated condi:

tion, said reservoir and cushions being of unitary mnstruction thisconstruction hein s mian adapted for uaewith m w e seats, as lmrtimtllrly illustrated in meanw- 1 li nother obieet of this invention isnew ride a giv neumahicuzliy summed motorcycle seat npm which the tie iscetucliably secured, and bein so forced as to 7 all the'expansion of theinflating reservoir compressed.

Another oh ect of eas invention is to p150- vidc a motorcycle seat whichis provided with shackleis adapted to limit the upward movement of theseat, and rebound bumpers provided to resiliently limit the downwardmovement of the seat.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pneumaticallysupporte l mot/01* cycle seat, all of the parts of which may beseparated and re-assembled as desired without. difficulty, thus makingit easy to inter change or repair the parts when necessary.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation illustrating a fragmentary portionof a motor cycle upon which is mounted the pneumatically supported seat,with which the present. invention is concerned.

Fig. 2 is a small view in rear elevation illustrating one form of theseat.

Fig. 3 is a small view in front elevation illustrating the pneumaticsupports as upplied to the axle of a motor vehicle.

-Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in side elevation illustrating the preferredform of the motorcycle seat.

Fig. 5 is a view in plan illustrating the under face of the motorcycleseat as shown in Fig. 4, and particularly discloses the design of theseat when a dual supporting system is used.

Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal section as Seen 'throu the seat on theline 6-6 of Fig. 5, sai view particularly disclosing the formation ofthe air reservoir as Well as the shackles by which the seat is held tothe "inner easing or reservoir of the pneumatic rt. I igl 9 is afragmentary view in section as pnith line 99 of Fig; 8 and moreparticularly illustrates the inner casing.

Referringmore particularly to the draw ings,10indi catcs the frame of amotorcycle Mbunterl'upon the frame is a sent it here shownas supported.upon pneumatic supports 12. In the preferred form of the invention twosupports are used while in the modification as shown in Fig. 2 a singlesupport is used. The pneumatic supports rest upon a bracket 1- securedto the frame and by means of which the rear of the saddle is supported.The forward end of the saddle is provided w th a born mounted by a pin16 to the frame. pair of shackles 17 and 18 also are provided to securethe rear of the seat to the frame and limit its upward movement.

The saddle may be of any desired configuration and is here shown asformed with a metal sub-frame 19 upon which upholstering and an outercover 20 are positioned. This sub-frame is preferably pressed from asingle sheet of metal to the configuration disclosed in Fig. 5 of thedrawings, having a down-turned marginal flange which e.\'- tcnds aroundthe entire seat. as shown in Fig". (3. The born 15 is fastened to thefor-- ward end of the snlrframe and is bolted by means. of bolts 21 and22. Mounted beneath the sub-frame and secured thereto by a series ofbolts 23 is an air reservoir case :24 which substantially conforms tothe configuration of the seat and terminates with the forward endadjacent the end of the born 15. This case is reinforced longitudinallyby a strap 25" extending across the case and adapted to prevent itsdistortion under the influence of internal pressure and expansion.

A shackle bracket 2t: is mounted at the rear of said case to bear uponthe reinforcing strap :25. This bracket is riveted in place and istilted with a pivot pin 27 upon which an upper shackle link 25 ispivotally mounted. The opposite end of this shat-khlink is provided witha shackle pin 2'.) to which the lo\\'cr,sh.- .cl\'le link 30 is mounted.This link in turn is pivotally connected by a pin 31 to the framebracket H previously described. As shown in Fig. 6. under normalconditions the pivot pins '27 and 551 are in vertical alinemcnt. Theupper shacklc link is formed with two parallel side, members which areunited by a central web 3:2. This web acts as a stop for the shackle asit is in the a rcuate path of travel of lug 333 formed upon the end ofthe lower shackle link 30 and projecting upwardly above the shackle pin2!). It will be evident that as the two links move toward a verticallyalined position the lug i-l will encounter the end of the web 3'2 andwill thus limit the upward movement of the seat in a positive manner.

It. will be understood that by mounting the seat in pivotal relation tothe fixed pivot pin 16 and permitting it. to have limited radialmovement in relation to that pin by means of the shackles. the seat willbe. yieldably secured in position. drawings, the scat, whenso mounted,is re-' .\s shown in the siliently supported by the supporting members,as indicated by the numeral 12. Reference being bad to Fig. 7 of thedrawings, it will be seen that each of these members is composed of anouter casing 34 and an inner lining :55, or bladder. The outer casing isformed preferably of rubber and fabric while the inner liningis formedof rubber which is leak-proof. Especial attention is directed to theexact configuration of the outer casings of the supporting elements.These elements are here shown as having side walls which aresubstantially conical and each element terminates at the small lower endof the casing with a depression 30 by which the element is seated upon adeformer 37 secured by a bolt 38 to the mounting bracket 14. Thisdeformer is formed with a protrusion 39 which corresponds in contour tothe depression in the end of the supporting; element within which itseats. The conical side walls of the pneumatic supporting: element aredrawn in adjacent the upper end of the element to form a shoulder orhorizontal face 40 against which an annular clamping member 41 issecured. The upper end of the outer casing 34 is reduced in diameter toform a neck 4; around which an annular out-turned flange 43 ispositioned. this flange being a part of the casin It will be noted thatthe clamping member 41 completely encircles the neck of the one ing andefittmls outwardly over the casing flange 43 where the flange of theclamping member and the flange of the casin r are so cured to each otherand to the wall of the reservoir case 24. series f bolts 44 are providedto fasten these members to the ease and are preferably spot-welded toprevent the bolts from loosening and projecting into the case 2+. Theannular clamping member is also formed with an out-turned flange -15against which the shoulder 40 is adapted to bear. By this arrangement itwill be seen that the deformer actsupon the small lower end of thecasing and that the enlarged upper end of the casing is firmly heldagainst the flange 45 of the clamping member 41. Due to this fiirmation,slight shock and vibration of the vehicle frame will be instantlyabsorbed within the support and at the reduccd lower end thereof. thesupport being so designed as to maintain the vehicle seat ina constantplane under a normal strain and throughout substantially three-fourthsof the travel of the deformer, and thereafter to slightly elfect theseat throughout the remaining quarter of the deformer travel. This willproduce a seat having very easy ridi g qualities.

The casings 34, when operated. are in llated by means of the inner tubes35 which are made of flexible rubber and extend with the neck|N)lt'l01ls through the necks o'f'the casing. and are formed to beintegral with IOU not groiiding pool, 1: E'iii' innm' lini z; T :nilutrdlli lilo lmwr n;

unnamed that who? l la il l l nomploiw obviuird iii tin: Pllt'il min-nul: the upward on tivriy liuiiiwi vidvd, lilo s Wtliil liii i" Stopmvmlul the supper-ti pla ed and iii and inner Willl'll oul: shorten thriii m in operation, lieu first, iosition iug if within the re t stem 49is in Fig. 6 of tho portions 3:3 arm 5, pasings 34. Tho-to ml withclumping rim face of tho rw secured to ilw under means of llw hol:a atintervels thermiobolls also u t i. am her lonsitu The seat may be thenplaced will] in; for- Ward ond Serirured by tho horn l5 and the piv tpin 16 and its rour and he-rlzro-rl ll the shat-ides, of which and Illl'fllll lllwf the links. The outer casings oi tlw eup oriinl, elementsare then positioned with llnir depressed lower ends upon the protrrrdomof the deformers. The rider may tin-n tainhis place upon the sent andwill ho mpportr-li by the pneumatic action of llio lllll 'l linings andthe reservoir ll in romlan? rum niunicution therewith. in mmtlnnight isnot equally distributed upon tho Hunt ill-- air pressure within the twoinner linings 35 will be equalized through the llii'iillill of thereservoir. As the vehirlv morw along the highway, the vihruiion and ilwUl'#illl:ll shock will be readily uhsorlu-d \\'lli]il! tin supportingelements .Withont lruusmitting u perceptible shock to the vehir-lu--it;li. \Yhri; extreme shock is prodiu-od, llnmmunitiesupports will hofurther, dt-rl'ornwd until linresilient stop members :md i=1 ifiilitliiwith each other. 'During this" Eij'lliililflll :hv unixire volume of airllfilli'ii within in luo bladders and the reservoir will on ronw pressedand will act to produce a rel-mind whioh will hold the vehicle to thoyou-l, it will he understood that Vnrion: iii! gnaw s'iires may henrhitruril ianmi with n liniledders and the reservoir and that an aircushion of any desired }nw.:ure may lionhe attained. It will also hovvidrnl lleril ur or more of the pnunmzil'ir Mlljl mlh only positionedbetween tlw lXllH :lllfl holly oi' other vehiclou in u desiruhlo manner.

The pneumatic support tluw sperilicully constructed was Primarilyinlendvd for lino upon :1 motorcycle seat. It is ohrioue however, that apneumatic support embodyin the principles of my present invvnlion may heused anywhere that a shock luau-hing or elastic action is desirable. TheBout ll coir stitutes a frame having a chnmhor wilinnn opening leadingdownwardly or from our side, and a pneumatic casing 34 ronntiintw ucovolfor the oponing. said rowr in union on extension of the ehumhi-r in tholriunr and said chmnhr-r and extension livin filled with :1 single airbag.

It will thus be seen that lilo plltilliitllii seat here disclosed willprovide it rP-silieui support which is sensitive to vihrulion :nntslight shock and will absorb tin: smnn without transmitting it to otherpartof tinvehiole. as Well as accommodate morn violent Shook whichwill'be uhsorhml in :1 mongradual and desirable munnvr than might beobtained by the use of spring Zlllli other resilient supports.

While I have shown the preferred rem-- sir-notion of my pneumati zilivsupporimi motorcycle seat as now knovvn to no; ii will lull beunderstood that various changes in the combination, construction. andarrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art, without,departing from the spirit of my invention.

I elaim:

1. A motorcycle seat romprising a saddle. means wherehv it ispivotallvsecured at its front end to the frame of the lll()ll)l(.\'t'lt. shackle members adapted to secure the rear end of the saddle tothe frame and permit it to have movona-nt in relation heret'o. meanswhereby the saddle will be pneumati- (fill Y supported in relation tosaid frame. and means formed upon said shackles for limiting the upwardmovement of the saddle in relation to the frame.

2. A motore vrle seat eomprising a addle. means whereby it is pivot'allyserured at its front end to the frame of the motorevt'le. shacklenn-mbers adapted to serure the rear end of the saddle to the Frame andpermit it to have movement in relation thereto. means wherelnthe saddlewill be put-lunatirally supported in relation to said frame. meansformed upon said haekles for limiting the upward movement of the saddlein relation to the frame. aml stop members mounted upon the l'rame andthe saddle adapted to limit the downward movement of said saddle andresilientl t-nshion the same.

3. A pneumatitsupport comprising an inelos'ed air reservoir. an exposedresilient supporting element t'ornn-d integral with said reservoir. andmeans whereby said re ervoir and supporting element may be mounted upona vehiele to absorb shot-k and vibration.

l. pneumatie support eomprisin; allexible air reservoir. a rigid easewithin whirh said reservoir is inttlosed. a llexible supportingI elementextending outwardly from said ease and formed integral with saidllexible reservoir. an annular lixed llange adapted to support: one endof said element. and a del'ormer positioned at the opposite end of saidelement in a manner to transmit shoek and vibration thereto.

5. A pneumatie support eomprisin; a hexible air reservoir. a rigid easewithin whieh said reservoir is inelosed. a tubular neek ineonnnuniration with said reservoir and extending outwardly from saidease. an enlarged flexible bladder ol' spheroidal shape formed integralwith said neek and with the reservoir. a resilient outer easinginelosin; said bladder. aml means whereby said supportin; elementcomprising the bladder and unsung may be uterposed between the runninggear of: .ebit'le and its load in a manner to absorb the shoek deliveredto the run ning gear.

(3. In a pnetnnatieally supported motort'ycle, seat. a supportingelement eomprising a eonieally shaped outer casing positioned with itsapex extending downwardly, said apex bearing upon a deformer member, atubular neck formed at the top of said meniber and reduced in diameterto form a shoulder. and a llann'e positioned around said net-k andagainst whieh said shoulder is adapted to bear. whereb) t'orres artingto more the det'ornn-r and said flange toward earh other will eompresssaid casing.

T. ln a pneumatit-ally supported motorr \'t'le seat. a supporting'element comprising a eonieallx shaped outer using positioned with itsapex extending downwardly, said apex bearing upon a deformer member. atubular nerk formed at the top of said member and redut-ed in diameterto form a shoulder. a tlange positioned around said neck and againstwhieh said shoulder is adapted lo bear. whereby l'orees acting to movethe del'ornn-r and said flange toward eaeh other will eon press said ening. a flexible bladder positioned within said t'onieallv shaped Ca5-ing'. a neek formed uppn said bladder. and a flexible air reservoirFormed integral with said net-k wherebv the rasing will be provided withpneumatit' support.

8. i\ pneumatieally supported motorevele saddle eomprising a rigid addleplate. a rigid reservoir ease detatbaably secured beneath said plate. aflexible air resurvoirhonlined within said ('tlht. means for inflatingsaid re ervoir. outwardly extending air bladders having seini-ri; 'idnet-ks by \vhieh the are integrall eonneeled with said reservoir, reilient easings adapted to inclose said bladders. annular elamping'members adapted to eneirele the net-ks of said easings and rigidlyseeure the t'nsingl's to the reservoir ease. an annular flange formedupon said lampin r members and adapted to bear against the upper fare ofsaid ca ings, and del'ormers positioned to bear against the lower endsof said rasings in a manner to transmit shoek from thelranle of the vehirle to the bladders and the reservoir. there to be pneumatieallvabsorbed.

5'. in a pnenlnatieally supported motorovele seat. the eonrbination witha flexible rigidlv eonlined air reservoir and flexible bladdtr membersiormed integral with said reservoir and extending outwardh therefrom. olvieldable bladder casings adapted to in lose the bladder members. saideasings being formed with x tubular ne k, an enlarged annular bodportion formed integral with said neek and having inwardly taper in;side walls forming: a conieally shaped -reeeptaele. and a depressionformed upon the apex of said re eptaele to receive. the end of adel'ormer.

10. .\n inner lining for a pneumatic vehiele upport eoulprising aflexible air reservoir. tubular neek portions formed integral with thereservoir and extending outwardly therefrom, and spheroidal flexiblebladder members formed integral with said necks and in communicationwith said reservoir.

11. An inner lining for a pneumatic vehicle support comprising aflexible air reservoir, tubular neck portions formed integral with thereservoir and extending outwardlv therefrom, spheroidal flexible bladdermembers formed integral with said necks and in communication with saidreservoir, and a valve stem by which said reservoir and bladders may beinflated.

An inner lining for a pneumatic vehicle support comprising a flexibleair reservoir, tubular neck portions formed integral with the reservoirand extending outwardly therefrom, spheroidal flexible bladder menibcrsformed integral With said necks and in communication with saidreservoir, a valve stem by which said reservoir and bladders may beinflated, a rigid case inclosing said air reservoir, and yieldable casesinclosing said bladders.

13. A supported frame forming a chamher having an opening, a pneumaticcasing secured to the frame and covering said opening and bulgingoutwardly and forming an extension of the chaniber, and a pneumaticinner tube in the chamber and extension.

14. A closed frame having a reduced opening at one side, a pneumaticcasing secured to the frame and forming a closed chamber, and apneumatic inner tube in the chamber of the frame and casing.

15. A chambered metallic frame having a pneumatic extensioncommunicating with the chamber through a neck, and a deformer engagingthe outer end of said extension in a manner to transmit shock andvibration thereto.

16. A metallic frame having a chamber with a reduced outlet and apneumatic extension around the outlet, and a deformer engaging the outerend of said extension.

17. A metallic frame having a chamber with a reduced outlet, a pneumaticextension secured to the frame around the outlet, said extension flaringoutwardly beyond the point of attachment, and a deformer engaging theouter end of said extension.

18. In a pneumatic support, a frame having a chamber, means forming aneck having a throat leading from the chamber, a pneumatic casingsecured to the opposite end of the neck from the throat and bulgingoutwardly, and a deformer engaging the outer end of said pneumaticcasing.

19. A supported frame forming a chamber having an opening, a pneumaticcasing secured to the frame and covering said opening and bulgingoutwardly and forming an extension of the chamber, a pneumatic innertube in the chamber and extension, and a deformer engaging said casing.

20. A closed frame having a reduced opening, a pneumatic casing securedto the frame and forming a closed chamber, a neumatic inner tube in thechamber of the rame and casing, and a deformer engaging said casing.

21. A chambered seat frame having a pneumatic extension comi'nnnicatingwith the chamber through a neck, and an inner tube filling the chamberand extension.

2 2. A chambered seat frame having a pneumatic extension communicatingwith the chamber through a neck, and a deformer supporting theextension.

A chaml'iered seat frame having a pneumatic extension, and a seat coverupon the frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY SEIBEL.

